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Mr Khatri had been at the hospital all night with his unwell sister when a nurse ordered a taxi for him at around 4.20am on December 23, 2016, Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard.

Gul Nazim Ahmadzai appeared before Leicester magistrates

John Moss, prosecuting on behalf of Leicester City Council, told the court Mr Khatri was “extremely angry and hurt” that the first driver drove off.

Mr Moss added: “He has indicated that these circumstances of his visit to the hospital were stressful and worrying without having the added upset of being refused carriage while he was with his guide dog.”

After realising that Ahmadzai, of Sherrard Road, Highfields, Leicester, had driven off, Mr Khatri called ABC taxis, the firm with which the journey had been booked.

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All taxi drivers are required to accept passengers with assistance dogs, unless they have been granted an exemption certificate by the council.

Leicester Royal Infirmary (Image: Chris Gordon)

Ahmadzai never applied for an exemption. He claimed he had informed ABC taxis of his allergy, and thought that was all he needed to do.

The defendant, who appeared in court with the help of an interpreter, admitted that he had not read the standard conditions for taxi drivers , which detailed the rules on guide dogs, due to his limited English abilities.

The firm had a system in place whereby the controller would ask the caller if they had an assistance dog with them and on the rare cases they did, another driver would be sent in place of Ahmadzai.